Santa Anita’s track outfitted with drought-friendly El Segundo sand

Santa Anita’s track has been completely renovated after it’s original sand and clay mixed cover was replaced by a naturally occurring material called “El Segundo Sand.” Safer and easier to maintain, 21,000 yards of the material has been installed when pictured August 25, 2014.
Leo Jarzomb — Staff photographer

ARCADIA>> Santa Anita Park’s race track will reopen on September 2. It has been closed to training since July 10 for renovations, including an upgrade of the main track.

The track, which was once surfaced in an artificial sand layer, will now boast a natural and native covering of El Segundo sand.

El Segundo sand is coveted for its uniformity, which is paramount to track safety, a top concern for Track Superintendent Dennis Moore.

Moore, who has years of experience with racetracks across Southern California, joined the Santa Anita team in December. The previous track surface was a manufactured sand, which, according to Moore, had serious problems. It broke down too quickly and its uniformity was constantly an issue.

When he arrived at Santa Anita, Moore knew something had to be done about the surface. It had already degraded considerably in only four years, which is well under the average lifespan for a racetrack surface.

After he met with local contractors in 2010, Moore had El Segundo sand tested by experts for future use at race tracks, particularly Hollywood Park in Inglewood, which Moore oversaw.

After his move to Santa Anita, Moore knew the surface would fit. It has already gone through a process of natural erosion, giving it a consistency that can outclass most synthetic track covers, he said. This consistency will also help conserve water, a serious concern amidst the current drought conditions.

“It’s gone through hundreds of thousands of years of breaking down,” he said, “It won’t wear down as easily.”

More importantly, though, is its affect on horses’ health. A uniform running surface is imperative to maintaining horse health, track officials said.

Other tracks in the area have made plans to follow suit. Del Mar racetrack, which boasts a capacity of 44,000, currently has a synthetic racetrack surface, but will be making the switch to El Segundo sand soon, Del Mar officials said.

Santa Anita’s stable will re-open for horsemen on August 31. Santa Anita’s 2014 Autumn Meet begins Sept. 26, and runs through Nov. 1. The track will close again on Nov. 2, but will only remain closed until after Christmas, when the racing season picks back up again.